Confused
Hi, I've been exploring my catholic faith for some time and I have come across some things which I find confusing and to be honest I feel a little uncomfortable with them.
For example:
1.Pope Pius IX states in Ubi Primum in 1849: "For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace and all salvation. for this is his will, that we obtain everything through Mary"
2. Pius X refers to her as "the dispenser of all favours which Jesus acquired for us by his death"
There are various other papers etc I have read which tell us that in order to obtain the grace to be saved I must go through Mary and that she is a co-redemptrix with Christ.
How is this so? Surely It is Christ who I must turn to? It was Christ alone who died for our sins in order that we may reach Heaven.
Could you please help me with this aspect of Catholicism as I am having trouble with it.
On a seperate note, I was recently in Prague and came across the Church where the Infant Child of Prague is housed. I felt quite uncomfortable with what I saw. An altar dedicated to a wax doll and the doll furnished with a crown and regal costume. there was also a museum in the church that showed various costumes that the doll is dressed in and the history behind them.
Could you please explain the meaning of this doll? Its quite difficult to discuss me faith with non-catholics when I stumble across things like this which make me wonder!
Thankyou for your time.
QUESTION from Jonathan on May 24, 2004
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on May 25, 2004
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Dear Jonathan: We come to Jesus through Mary. We do this whether we know it or not, believe it or not. It was Mary's fiat that gave Jesus to the world, thus it was through Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, that we find Jesus. Without Mary, Jesus would not have been born. If he had not been born, then he would not have been able to die on the Cross for our sins. The statement about receiving all favors through Mary is merely a statement that God so honors Mary, the Mother of God, that He has delegated this power to her. Oftentimes we do not understand these sorts of ideas in the United States because we are far removed of the system and symbolism and customs of kingdoms. It was considered a great honor for a King to bestow delegated power to a Prime Minister or to other people to act on the King's behalf. God is honoring Mary by this gift that he has given her -- to dispense favors and graces. It is nothing more complicated than that. A King can delegate to whom he pleases, and it pleases the King to honor someone above all the rest of the subjects of the kingdom, with this gift of dispensing favors.\ As for the Infant Child of Prague, here is a history: Click here and more
God Bless, |